Patrick Marsceill

on 11 Jan 13

I like the part of his review is where he gets bent out of shape that it has too many graphics and that it is only “really” 100 pages of words and then complains about the price. They must have taught him at his business school that the more writing that a book has in it, the more expensive it should be.

Brent

on 11 Jan 13

I can sympathize with his criticism, though I believe it fearful and clouded with traditional business inertia (“lethargy” might be a better word). But when you get a bunch of classically-minded business people in a room and talk theory, everyone wants to believe the minutia over which they stress has value. That everything needs to be measured in order to be managed. That the most appropriate way to succeed is by following everyone else’s lead.

I’ve found the advice and logic of REWORK is a refreshing boon if one controls a large portion of your work life. One doesn’t have to explain himself to anyone. A person taking the book to heart within a “real world” company faces a lot of explanation and the potential of an employer telling him, flat out, not to do it.

Brad Patterson

on 12 Jan 13

Haven’t read the book, but I’m now interested.

For what it’s worth, I felt like your response was very fair, whereas there were some “below-the-belt” punches that certainly undermine any serious points he brought up. Controversy is always good, though, to garner up a bit of attention as it is a tough commodity to attain and maintain.

Cheers,
Brad

Phillip

on 12 Jan 13

I felt he provided a nice insight from his perspective, but I’ve also enjoyed reading the other reviews provided by other readers (both favourable and ambivalent).

I haven’t yet read Rework but I have read your earlier work, Getting Real, which I really enjoyed and appreciated immensely so it’s more likely than not I’ll make my way around to buying a copy of Rework and forming my own opinion once I’ve read it.

As the old saying goes, opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one – it’s more important to keep an open mind and at the end of the day make your own judgement.

Daryl

on 12 Jan 13

Wow this review was written about two years ago.

Matt Halliday

on 12 Jan 13

Rework and Getting Real are both great books that I find myself revisiting every now and then. Lots of great advice if you go in with an open mind.

Laurent

on 12 Jan 13

I seriously doubt this guy did “hoped he would like” the book like his says, because all he expresses about the whole 37signals values and choices. It’s like saying “i really hate all that macdo offers but i really hoped to fall in love with their new doublecheese. ” No, you didn’t.

nik

on 12 Jan 13

I did find the review amusing. I have a related comment about Basecamp Breeze.

Anyone with a domain/host has email forwarding, so one can set an email on their domain, forward it to 50 addresses+ and have everyone just email that new email address instead.

This could have been good advice dispatched on a blog post ? Charging a 10$ one time fee for a alternative to a reply all button seems like really selling sand :)

alex

on 12 Jan 13

@ Nik – my kid’s punching bag needed sand in the base. I went and bought a bag of sand – yes – instead of driving down to the river and digging some up.

To the original OP reviewer of the book: ‘teaches in business school’
thread/

Alex

on 12 Jan 13

Oh, ok, that’s the same thing Apple haters say. Let them have their minute of happiness :)

Patrick Durusau

on 13 Jan 13

Two golden moments:

First, Doug can’t use his real name. Anonymous speech is just random noise.

Second, “Two hours later, I was done with it and no smarter than I was when I started it.” I don’t doubt the truth of that statement. But that’s hardly the fault of the book or its authors.

I am about to finish “ReWork” and found it delightful. You do have to think about what is being said and how it applies to your circumstances. Maybe that’s the issue?

Looking forward to re-reading it.

Patrick

GeeIWonder

You’d know this even if you didn’t know anything about the First Amendment, or how anonymous speech has rather consistently been upheld as being included under at the state and federal levels it. You can and should check the thinking of the judiciaries (and legistlative branches, for that matter) on that one yourself, but here’s one quote:

“Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all.”

But hey, even if you didn’t do your homework on that, or agree with the US constitution or Supreme Court, or others, all you would need is a moderate understanding of the last 72 months of history to get some grasp on why anonymous speech plays a major role in social and political change.

Certainly sometimes we take the bad with the good, and speech can be as dangerous as most things, but that is nothing new. The one thing anonymous speech is not is ‘just random noise’.

Plus, all kind of idiots sign their names to things without bothering to think about them, so lack of anonymity is no guarantee of increasing the quality of content.

Tom Mullen

on 13 Jan 13

Does this guy have a book to sell? He’s certainly picking a fight.

I haven’t read the book, but this incident qualifies the value of that particular point. Look at the rivalry created, almost tribal.

Just be aware that what the Chief says isn’t always ‘right’ and that he will always have his own agenda.

WellBoy

on 13 Jan 13

One thing that you should be concerned about, is that he is not the only one, there are 34 others who gave 1 star.

Anonymous Coward

on 13 Jan 13

The guy didn’t like the book, just it.
Jason’s comment on 2010: Doug, I’m sorry you feel this way about our book. I recognize not everyone’s going to like what we have to say. That’s absolutely fair. But accusing us of putting people up to responding to bad reviews, or calling the people who have a different opinion about the book than you do “cronies”, is both false and out of line. If you ever want to discuss the book with me let me know – I’m happy to give you a call and have a chat – but let’s keep it above board here in the comments. Thanks.

A post like this just proves to opposite. You are calling your fans to go against this post (this is quite visible in the comments).

AnonCoward II

on 13 Jan 13

To add to what the previous AC said: between april 2012 until the end of 2012 there were two (spamish?) comments on that review. Since this was posted there have been eleven (not counting DougA’s recent comment) most of which obviously sided with 37s.

Not sure why this link was posted.

Daniel

on 14 Jan 13

“Yes, I teach at a business school. And, yes, business school theory is pretty much the antithesis of what is in this book—or, rather, what is in this book is the antithesis of business school theory.”

He totally depends on what the book disagrees, that’s the reason for the hating =)

I think this book is amazing, helped and is helping me a lot.

Raphael

on 14 Jan 13

That guy (Doug) must love Microsoft Sharepoint or might use MS Project to manage projects…and like him, there are billions…

Daniel mentioned something really important: He depends on what the book disagrees.
And many, again, like him, help to perpetuate that old way of thinking.
I bet he also thought that a cellphone without buttons would never sell.

Btw, the book is excellent. (maybe(obviously) that’s why so many people take part on that discussion.)

Seriously

on 14 Jan 13

JF

To post this and to call this guy out for a bad review? Is he so wrong anyways? Isn’t it good that he has taken a perspective and made a statement? Isn’t that what you advocate sometimes?

I liked the book but it did not have a lot of resonating staying power the way Getting Real did for me. It was a watered down generalist book with cute pictures. If it helps people, and I think it does, it helps to remind them that everything does not have to be complicated. Everything does not need a meeting, etc. Those are good takeaways and simple ideas. For long time fans of yours and Getting Real and SVN, the book is not super helpful. Just being honest. For new people in different fields, probably some good simple takeaways for them. But is the book a good value? Let people have their own opinions.

But, people do have to work together and some projects are very complex and do require a lot of people. I would not want to fly in an airliner built by a company whose entire business methods revolved around ReWork. Just an example. On the other hand, Boeing or any company can learn some new-old tips to be leaner and to cut through some of the crap that ties up a business.

But, I wish you would just let people say what they want about the book. You published the book, you got paid, and its out there. People can make up their own minds. And the self-serving advertisement nature of this post is kind of unseemly. Of course, even bad PR is good for business and a lot of see through this and don’t like it.

Coward 1

on 14 Jan 13

Many people took part because of this post.
If you see the dates you will see it.

Matt B.

on 14 Jan 13

Doug guy sounds like one of those types who is pessimistic towards the world; a male Debbie Downer.

Carrie H.

on 15 Jan 13

Thanks for the entertainment. Maybe Doug and the others should spend more time working or teaching than posting lengthy comments…perhaps I should also get back to work. :)